1/7. The world's first obesity surgery performed by a surgeon at a distance.BACKGROUND: In recent years, laparoscopic procedures have gained popularity. The laparoscopic technique is, however, more difficult than the conventional approach, especially in obese patients. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate a solution to these difficulties. METHOD: On September 16, 1998, a laparoscopic gastric banding procedure was performed by a surgeon while he was actually sitting at a distance from his patient. The surgeon's assistant was scrubbed and gowned and stood at the patient's side. The surgeon manipulated handles that were connected to a computer in command of robotic arms mounted on the operating table near the patient. The robotic arms contained surgical tools with articulated tips, well inside the abdominal cavity. The system constituted a master-slave construction called Mona (Intuitive Surgical, Mountain View, CA). The entire procedure (adjustable silicone gastric banding) was performed solely by this system without any other intervention. RESULTS: The entire procedure lasted 90 minutes. The blood loss was 25 mL. The patient left the hospital on the second postoperative day. CONCLUSION: This procedure demonstrates that telesurgical procedures are feasible, can be performed safely even in obese patients, and improve the surgeon's comfort by restoring ergonomically acceptable conditions, by increasing the number of degrees of freedom, and by recreating the eye-hand connection lost in videoendoscopic procedures.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = near (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/7. Inguino-scrotal hernia of a double district ureter: case report and literature review.Ureteral hernia is uncommon and usually misdiagnosed. From an anatomic point of view, we can distinguish between two uretero-inguinal hernias: intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal. ureter inguinal hernias are nearly always indirect. This kind of hernia can include the ureter alone or, frequently, other abdominal sliding organs within the hernia sac (bladder, bowel tracts, etc.). Kidneys and urinary tracts present normal anatomic conformation, although renal ptosis may be found. As of July 2004, 139 cases of ureteral hernia had been described in the literature. Here we report a case of inguino-scrotal herniation of double district ureter and review the current literature to analyze the main clinical characteristics of this pathology and to establish pitfalls.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = near (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/7. Perioperative outcome of laparoscopic left lateral liver resection is improved by using staple line reinforcement technique: a case report.Current laparoscopic stapling technology still cannot prevent bile leakage (<55%) along the resection margin. A new staple line reinforcement technique was used in the present case. This technique incorporates an absorbable polymer membrane into the stapler system, such that it buttresses the transected solid organ. The objectives of this novel procedure are to decrease hemorrhage at the staple line and to prevent bile duct leakage after liver resection. A 47-year-old man followed for status post biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch presented with epigastric pain. On imaging, he was found to have a lesion in segment 2-3 of the left lobe of the liver, which measured at least 3 cm in diameter. He was admitted to the hospital to undergo a laparoscopic left lateral liver resection. This procedure involved laparoscopic ultrasonography of the liver and transection of the left liver lobe with endoscopic linear staplers. The staple height of 3.5, 60 mm long, reinforced with an absorbable polymer membrane was used for liver transection to catch the portal branches. This required multiple firings in the liver parenchyma and additional division of some tissue using the Harmonic scalpel. The larger branch in the middle of segment 2-3 and the left hepatic vein were both transected with the novel staple line reinforcement technique. Bleeding or any bile leakage in this area could not be visualized. No drains were left. The patient's postoperative course was uncomplicated, and he was discharged on postoperative day 3. pathology results showed a cavernous hemangioma of 4.5 cm in diameter. Staple line reinforcement with the absorbable polymer membrane has the potential to decrease staple line hemorrhage and bile leakage.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = near (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/7. Chronic obesity lymphoedematous mucinosis: three cases of pretibial mucinosis in obese patients with pitting oedema.Pretibial mucin deposition on the shins is known as pretibial myxoedema. We report three patients with pretibial mucinosis without thyroid disease. The patients were characterized clinically by morbid obesity and bilateral lower extremity pitting oedema with gradual and painless onset, and that did not involve the feet and ankles. Vesicles, semitranslucent papules or a woody plaque were found on the shins. Histologically, patients showed characteristic features of epidermal atrophy with effacement of the rete ridge pattern, separation of collagen bundles associated with oedema with stellate to linear fibroblasts, upward-running increased capillary and small vessels with haemosiderin deposition, and mucin deposition at the superficial papillary dermis and around the vessels. We propose that the present cases of 'chronic obesity lymphoedematous mucinosis' belong to the clinical entity of pretibial mucinosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = near (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/7. diabetes mellitus-associated diffuse autonomic dysfunction causing debilitating hypotension manifested after rapid weight loss in a morbidly obese patient: case report and review of the literature.The association between weight and blood pressure is well established, especially the paradigm of obesity-related hypertension. The relationship between diffuse autonomic dysfunction and orthostatic hypotension in patients with long-term diabetes mellitus is also well known. We report on a 57-year-old morbidly obese male with a long medical history of hypertension, myocardial infarction, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypothyroidism. After a loss of 147 pounds (representing a percent excess weight loss of 76%) within 6 months after gastric bypass surgery, the patient developed worsening orthostatic hypotension and near-syncopal episodes requiring medication. The subsequent diagnosis and treatment, as well as a literature review, are presented.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = near (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/7. "Near miss" death in obstructive sleep apnea: a critical care syndrome.OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to alert critical care physicians to the syndrome of obstructive sleep apnea with respiratory failure ("near miss" death) and to elucidate characteristics that might allow earlier recognition and treatment of such patients. DESIGN: We examined clinical and laboratory characteristics of eight patients with obstructive sleep apnea presenting to the ICU with respiratory failure. These characteristics were compared with those of eight stable apnea patients of similar severity but without a history of presentation with respiratory failure. SETTING: Medical ICU and pulmonary outpatient clinic at the Houston veterans Administration Medical Center, a teaching hospital affiliated with Baylor College of medicine. PATIENTS: Eight patients with obstructive sleep apnea who presented in, or developed, acute respiratory failure requiring tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation were matched to eight stable obstructive sleep apnea outpatients from the chest clinic. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The records of these 16 patients were reviewed and multiple characteristics that might predict these obstructive sleep apnea patients prone to respiratory failure and death (called the "near miss" death group; n = 8) were examined. The mean age of the near miss group was 57 yrs. All eight patients presented with respiratory acidosis (mean pH 7.22), hypercarbia (mean PaCO2 82 torr [10.9 kPa]), and hypoxemia (mean PaO2 45 torr [6.0 kPa]). Six of the eight patients had concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as determined by clinical characteristics and spirometry. Predisposing factors included facial trauma, lower respiratory tract infections or bronchospasm, and use of pain medication. All but one of the near miss subjects had awake hypercarbia (mean PaCO2 49 torr [6.5 kPa]) and hypoxemia (mean PaO2 58 torr [7.7 kPa]) during periods of clinical stability while only two controls had concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and none had hypercarbia. The prevalence of a history of wheezing and prior hospitalization for "respiratory problems" were greater in the near miss group. Once cured of apnea, no patient presented with recurrence of respiratory failure in follow-up ranging from 6 to 80 months, and cor pulmonale recurred in only one patient during subsequent onset of central apneas. CONCLUSION: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea who have concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or hypercarbia and hypoxemia are more prone to develop severe respiratory failure and probable death than those patients with apnea alone. The current study shows that recurrent respiratory failure and presumably mortality from this acute complication can be reversed with effective treatment of the obstructive apnea.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = near (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/7. bariatric surgery and multiple personality disorder: complexities and nuances of care.BACKGROUND: multiple personality disorder (MPD) can occur in patients with morbid obesity in need of bariatric surgery, though few reports noting this association exist in the literature. Herein we address MPD in morbid obesity, in the context of a patient presenting to us seeking surgical treatment of her morbid obesity. methods: A 31-year-old morbidly obese (BMI 49 kg/m2) Hispanic female presented in early 1994 requesting bariatric surgery. She had been a victim of violent sexual abuse as a young girl. Subsequently, she developed at least three personalities, including one male personality. RESULTS: Although she has lost nearly 45 kg after gastroplasty, her care has been complicated by her named multiple personalities. While MPD are infrequent and unfamiliar to most care providers, successful outcomes can be promoted with a proper approach. CONCLUSIONS: This patient's care illustrates that: (1) all personalities must agree to proposed operative intervention; (2) consent must be obtained from the 'true' patient; and (3) postoperative care and follow-up must address all personalities for an optimal outcome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = near (Clic here for more details about this article) |